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Growing Tomatoes

Leggy Tomato Plants

14 years ago

I started about 25 of these early girls from seed in mid March. They are pretty leggy this year due to the new member of the family being a cat and I had to move the growing lights to the laundry room where there is no sunlight. After I harden these plants can I plant them as deep as the red line I put on the picture or even deeper? I dont know how to post the pic so here is the link

http://home.comcast.net/~printergod2000/tom.jpg

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Comments (5)

digdirt2
14 years ago
Yes, but trim those 2 long side branches (the 2 just at the line) off too.

Dave
eurolarva
Original Author
14 years ago
So the branches at the very bottom should be cut as well? Do I cut them flush with the main stem or leave a litte on it when I bury it?

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1338852}}
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Wow. Thanks for the response. If someone can tell me how to post a pic I'll try to do that. For now let me say the plants have no problem supporting the top growth. When the sun is actually shining..the plants see sun from 730 am until 5pm via a window in my house. As a result they lean towards the outside. To counteract this I switch the orientation daily. (it is amazing to see them adapt daily) A few of the plants are 5-7 inches tall with more than a dozen leaves (cherryÂs and early girls) I do have all of April and most of May to get through before I put them outside but I intend to put them in my patio enclosure in pots in mid April. On sunny 60 degree days the patio gets a hot as 80 degrees with about 6 hours of sun. This is my bridge strategy before I eventually put them in the ground outside in mid May. My big boys are the ones that are starting to concern me. Some of the lower leave have yellowed/browned and fallen off. A few of the leaves has some very small yellow spots. I should say that the BB seeds came from last years crop. A crop that somehow survived LB.
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sillyrib
14 years ago
I dont agree with planting deep like many here do. You'll see that the stem below about 3-4 inches just dies and the stem above reroots. Its better to plant sideways about 3-4 " below the surface then the stem will sprout roots all along the stem.
digdirt2
14 years ago
Whether you trench in or bury deep makes no difference as long as you don't shallow plant.

Just snip off the leaf branches that will be buried - or don't - works either way its just easier to plant I think with them trimmed and there is nothing to be gained by having a forked-tongue plant sticking out at the soil line.

Snip them close to the stem or leave a short stub - works either way - I usually leave about a 1/4" stub or so but it's not a big deal either way. It's not brain surgery. ;)

Dave
tn_gardening
14 years ago
You'll be fine planting them at the red line as planned. Just snip the bottom shoots and dig a trench.

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